If you’re even a casual fan of survival games, you’ve probably seen the hype around Ark 2, the long-awaited sequel to the hit dino-survival title that took over Steam and console libraries back in 2017. For a lot of players, the biggest question on their mind ahead of launch is is Ark 2 multiplayer, since shared play was the core of what made the first game so endlessly replayable. I’ve sunk over 1,200 hours into the original Ark across PvE and PvP servers, so I’ve dug through all the official announcements, playtest leaks, and developer interviews to put together this complete guide to everything you need to know about Ark 2’s multiplayer features. We’ll cover everything from player counts to crossplay support, common mistakes to avoid, and how to set up your first lobby with friends.
Let’s Answer: Is Ark 2 Multiplayer for Both PvE and PvP Play?
The short answer is yes, multiplayer is a core, built-in feature of Ark 2, not a post-launch add-on. Studio Wildcard has repeatedly stated that shared play is central to the game’s design, and they’ve built the entire world to support both small group co-op and large-scale tribe wars. Unlike some survival sequels that shift focus to single-player story content, Ark 2’s narrative is designed to be experienced alone or with friends, so you won’t miss out on any plot beats if you play with a group.
Official Ark 2 servers will support up to 70 concurrent players at launch, with unofficial servers able to support higher counts if the host has sufficient hardware and bandwidth. You can also choose between three core server types depending on your playstyle: PvE, casual PvP, and hardcore PvP. PvE servers disable all player-vs-player damage to let you focus on building and taming without the risk of getting raided while you’re offline. Casual PvP servers have restrictions around offline raiding and new player protection, while hardcore PvP servers have no rules outside of anti-cheat policies, so anything goes.
You don’t have to play multiplayer if you don’t want to, of course. Single-player mode is fully supported, with adjustable settings for taming speed, resource spawn rates, and dino aggression levels. But if you’re on the fence about trying multiplayer, I’d strongly recommend giving it a shot even with just one or two friends. The original Ark was 10 times more fun with a group, and all signs point to the sequel being the same.
Key Multiplayer Features You Can Expect in Ark 2
Studio Wildcard hasn’t just carried over the original game’s multiplayer features, they’ve expanded on almost every system to fix common complaints from long-time players. Here are some of the most exciting confirmed features so far:
- Full crossplay support across PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5, so you can play with friends no matter what console they own
- Tribe progression tiers that unlock exclusive building schematics, taming bonuses, and PvP perks for groups of 5 or more players
- Granular base permission settings that let you restrict build, access, and taming rights to specific tribe members or ally groups
- Proximity voice chat with 3D audio, so you can hear other players approaching before you see them, or coordinate with your tribe during raids
Crossplay is enabled by default but can be turned off in your account settings for console-only lobbies if you don’t want to compete against PC players with mouse and keyboard controls. The new tribe progression system is another huge improvement from the first game, where larger tribes only had an advantage because they had more people to farm resources. Now, smaller dedicated tribes can unlock unique perks that level the playing field against massive zerg groups, which makes PvP far more balanced for casual players.
The permission settings are a welcome change too. In the original Ark, you either gave someone full access to your base or no access at all, which led to a lot of drama when new tribe members stole resources or destroyed builds by accident. Now you can let new members harvest resources and ride low-level dinos without letting them touch your high-value tames or locked storage chests.
How to Set Up Your First Ark 2 Multiplayer Server With Friends
Getting started with multiplayer is straightforward, even if you’ve never hosted a game server before. You have three main options for playing with friends, each with their own pros and cons depending on your group size and how much customization you want.
The easiest option is to join a public server together. Just search for a server that matches your playstyle (PvE, casual PvP, etc.) and has space for your group, then spawn in and start playing. The downside of public servers is that they often have established tribes that have been playing for weeks or months, so you might have a hard time getting a foothold if you’re all new players. Beginners should stick to PvE beginner servers for their first 10-20 hours of play to avoid being raided repeatedly while you learn the core mechanics.
If you want a private space just for your friend group, you can use the in-game peer-to-peer hosting feature. The host just needs to select “Host Private Lobby” from the main menu, adjust the settings to your preference, and send invites to your group. Peer-to-peer lobbies are only recommended for groups of 8 or fewer players to avoid lag and connection issues, and the server will only be online when the host is playing the game. This is a great option if you just want to play casually with a few friends on weekends, and don’t want to pay for a dedicated server.
For larger groups or players who want a 24/7 server they can access any time, you can rent a dedicated server from a third-party provider. Prices start at around $10 a month for a 20-slot server, and you’ll have full control over every setting, from taming speed to which dinos spawn on the map. Most providers have one-click Ark 2 server setups, so you don’t need any technical knowledge to get it running.
Common Ark 2 Multiplayer Mistakes to Avoid
After playing the original Ark for years, I’ve seen dozens of new players make the same avoidable mistakes that ruin their multiplayer experience before they even get a chance to enjoy the game. These are the top ones to watch out for.
First, don’t join a hardcore PvP server as a new solo player. I don’t care how good you are at other survival games, you will get wiped within your first hour of play. Experienced players roam spawn areas looking for new players to kill for fun, and you won’t have the gear or tames to defend yourself. Start with PvE or casual PvP until you know how to tame dinos and build a secure base.
Second, don’t let random players join your tribe without vetting them first. It’s tempting to accept every join request when you’re just starting out and want more people to help farm resources, but there are a lot of trolls who join tribes just to steal all your loot and destroy your base before leaving. Only invite people you know in real life or have played with for at least a few hours first.
Third, don’t forget to back up your base and resources if you’re playing on a PvP server. Never leave your valuable resources or tamed dinos unguarded during active PvP hours on public servers. Build a small hidden stash a few hundred meters away from your main base with enough resources to rebuild if your main base gets raided. That way you won’t have to start completely from scratch if you get attacked while you’re offline.
Finally, read the server rules before you start playing. A lot of casual PvP servers have rules against raiding bases that are less than 24 hours old, or raiding players who are offline. Break those rules and you’ll get banned permanently, no exceptions. Most servers post their rules in the server description or on a pinned message in their Discord, so it only takes a minute to check.
If you were still wondering is Ark 2 multiplayer, you now have all the details you need to plan your first playthrough. Whether you want to play casual co-op with a couple of friends taming dinos and building a base, or compete in large-scale tribe wars for control of the best resource spots on the map, there’s a multiplayer mode for you. Just take it slow when you first start out, avoid the common mistakes we covered, and you’ll have a way better experience than most new players. I’m already planning my first tribe playthrough with my old Ark group, and I can’t wait to see what the new multiplayer systems have to offer.